The Northern Advocate Daily FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1935. BRITAIN'S PART

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1935, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1935. BRITAIN'S PART

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper.

Every member of the British Empire must feel proud of the speech delivered by Sir Samuel Hoare, British Foreign Seeretarj 7 , in the House of Commons on Wednesday, when he explained the part that Britain, a member of the League of Nations, has taken in the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, and the part she is prepared to play in bringing about a settlement acceptable to Italy, to Abyssinia and to the League. At the • outset he dealt with the calumny, circulated mainly by Italy, that Britain, in acting as she has done, has been actuated by selfish interests. He admitted, with obvious pride, that Britain had taken the lead at Geneva. “I will tell the House frankly and definitely,” he said, “that I do not believe the representatives of Great Britain and the British Empire can take a secondary part in any great international discussion. Representatives of a great Empire cannot abdicate their responsibilities or disguise their views.” Who will not applaud such a sentiment'? Sir Samuel Hoare declared that Britain had done everything within her power, as a member of the League of Nations, to secure a peaceful settlement of the dispute, and he made it clear that, but for her leadership l in the world’s cause, the League would probably not have agreed upon a policy of collective action in the imposition of sanctions against Italy. Some members of the League had been tempted—and the temptation was very real—to throw up the task as hopeless when the issue lay between the League and one of its most powerful members, but, said the Foreign Secretary, the

League is showing greater vital- j ity today than it has ever sliown. This, we think it may he truthfully said, is duo. to Britain’s steadfast devotion to a great ideal. Emphasising the difference between a boycott—the effect of sanctions—and war, Sir Samuel Hoare fervently prayed that nothing more than a boycott would be required to discipline Italy. At the same time he made a moving appeal for another attempt to reach a settlement while Italy is still ■ a member of the League, and before sanctions arc applied. ‘ * Cannot this eleventh hour chance,” he asked, “be so used as to make it unnecessary to proceed further along this unattractive road of economic action against a fellow member, an old friend and a former ally?” This appeal is in line with the spirit which has anirSated Britain from, the outset. Can Italy honestly claim to have been animated by an equally sincere desire for a peaceful solution of problem? We think not. According to today’s cable news, Italy is pleased with , Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech, but there is a demand for “ something concrete arid practical.” That is all very well, but Italy should realise that “something concrete and practical” must come from her. She has broken the law of the League to which she. gave her solemn assent, and it is only, insofar as she returns to the fold in penitent spirit that she can expect the “different interpretations of the Covenant,” which she says is tjre cause of all the trouble, to be discussed. In making war upon Abyssinia, Italy has placed civilisation in jeopardy. There is Still time to restrict the area of war. Will Italy respond in the spirit which animated Sir Samuel Hoare when he said; “The crisis whicti confronts us is not of a few days or a few weeks but a symptom of wider and more protracted movements which can be controlled only by steady pressure and constant determination to face the facts of a changed and changing world. . , “It is because our eyes are fixed on the difficult future that we pray that the principles of collective action may be upheld and a way speedily found to end the present • hateful controversy.”